Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects must be 18 years or older
- ACR criteria for diagnosis of RA for at least 3 months.
- Active RA as defined by DAS28 >= 3.2 at study entry.
- Unsatisfactory response or intolerance to prior DMARDs.
- A negative pregnancy test (serum HCG) for women of childbearing potential prior to
start of study treatment.
- Use of reliable method of contraception e.g. IUDs, condoms, or hormone (oral,
implantable, or injectable) contraceptives by all female patients of childbearing
potential. Male patients with procreative capacity should also ensure that effective
contraception is used during the study and for 70 days after study completion
Exclusion Criteria:
- Prior treatment with alkylating agents such as cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil.
- Prior treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin or any investigational agent within 30
days, or 5 half lives of the product, whichever is longer.
- Prior treatment with investigational biologic therapy (e.g. anti CD4)
- Treatment within the last 2 months with approved biologic therapy (eg etanercept,
infliximab, anakinra)
- Prior treatment with total lymphoid irradiation
- History of cancer or lymphoproliferative disease other than a successfully and
completely treated squamous cell or basal cell carcinoma.
- History of or current acute inflammatory joint disease of origin other than RA, e.g.
mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus etc.
- History of uncontrolled diabetes, unstable ischemic heart disease, active inflammatory
bowel disease, active peptic ulcer disease, recent stroke (within 3 months) and any
other condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the subject at
risk by participation in the protocol.
- Positive serology for hepatitis B or C indicating active infection
- History of positive HIV status.
- Persistent infection, or severe infections requiring hospitalization or treatment with
iv antibiotics within 30 days, or oral antibiotics within 14 days prior to enrollment.
- Female subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- History of clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse in the last year.
- Previous diagnosis or signs of demyelinating diseases
- History of active tuberculosis (TB), histoplasmosis or listeriosis.
- Signs of previous TB infection (chest X-ray signs or positive PPD skin test). The
diagnosis of previous TB infection will be based on chest X-ray signs and on PPD skin
test.
